Attachment for cameras.



O. G. LAMB.

ATTACHMENT FOR CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 20, 1910.

Patented Sept. 10,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. G. LAMB.

ATTACHMENT FOR CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.20,1910.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. C. LAMB.

ATTACHMENT FOR CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED 1130.20, 1910 Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

m 0. AM

2M MW 3 %%ae& $401 oi TED STATES P ENT orrion.

CHARLES onnvnn'r LAMB, or mm, ILLINOIS, Assrcnon or rower-NINE 01m-IH'UNDREDTHS TO WILLARD M. MCEWEN, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ATTACHMENT FOR CAMERAS.

, Specification a! Letters Batent.

Patented se t. 10, 1912'.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHAnnns Gnnvnn LAMB, a resident of Joliet, in thecounty of Will and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Attachments for Cameras, of which the followingis a @ecification.

My invention relates to attachments for cameras and particularly toimproved focusing and plate holder mechanism mounted in common on astructure adopted to be applied ton camera. frame.

In prior photographic practice and procedure 2. camera is provided witha ground glass focusing plate which isfirst used to get the focus of thesubject, whereafter u separate plate holder is inserted in the camera,usually by osing slid into place in front of the ground glass holder,and then the exposure slide of the plate holder is withdrawn and thelens mechanism opernted to take the picture. This procedure involvesconsiderable time in the manipulation of the various separate parts, andfurthermore this manipulation is apt to move the camera and to spoil thefocus. Particularly where pictures are taken of living subjects it isvery desirable that the least time expire between focusing and cperationof the lens mechanism. Also where different slzcd pictures of the samesub ect are to be taken considerable time is consumed in re- Morespecifically, the various objects of my invention are to provide acommon supporting structure for focusingmechanism, plate holdermechanism and size adjusting mechanism, which structure can hesubstituted in a camera frame for the ordinary single plate holder; toprovide construction and arrangement which will enable the tow cusingmechanism, the plate holder mechanism, and size adjusting mechanism tobe quickly and accurately moved into the photographic held of thecamera; to providemeans for automatically accomplishing the withdrawaland reiusertion of the exposureslide upon adjustment of the pltiteholder inechamsm into and out of the photographic field; to provideimproved adjusting mechanism for determining themov'ement of theexposure slide'relative to the plate holder frame; to provide means inthe form of improved diaphra mechanism for adjusting for the size ofimage, and improved mechanism for controlling such diap ragm mechanism;to provide improved i icating mechanism for indicating the condition ofvarious parts; to provide im- 1proved means for preventing entrance ofight during photographic operation; and also to provide other improvedand desirable features of construction and operation.

The various features construction, arrangement, and operation arebrought out in the following specification and illustrated on theaccompanying drawings, in whic drawings- Figure 1 is a rear clevationalview of the attachment, showing the focusing mechanism in centralposition, Fig. 2 3S view taken from the left end ofthe attachment, Fig.3 is a. view of the lower side of the, attachment, Fig. 4 is a sectionalview taken substantially on plane 44, Fig. 1,-Fig. 5

I is a rear elevational view of the attachment,

showing the plate holder mechanism in central position and parts beingbroken away to more clearly illustrate the construction and arrangement,Fig. 6 is a view from the right end of the attachment, Fig. 7 is asectional view taken on plane 77, Fig. 5, Fig. 8 is a. front elevationalview of the attachment, Fig- 9 is a sectional view taken on plane 99,Fig.8, Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on plane l0-10, Fig. 8, andFig. 11 is a "sectional View taken along plane 11-l1, Fig. 5.

The attachment involves a. main supporting structure 1 in the form of arectangular shallow box or frame having side walls 2 and 3 and 'topandbottom walls 4 end 5. Adjacent the front edges of these wells beads orslide tongues 6 are provided for adapting the frame to he slid into andsecured in the rear frame of the. m r

. on e a 10.5

As shown, the rear rectangular frame -a of a camera. comprises sidewalls 6 and c and top: and bottom walls 4 and e, these walls adjacenttheir rearcdge "being provided with grooves or slideweys f. The section:9 of one of the walls, as for example,

side wall h, is separate from this wall and may he hinged at one end tohe swung to allow the frame 1 to he slid into frame a with its heads ortongues ti engaging in grooves f, the strip or door 97 losing thenclosed to engage the head on the corresponding side of the frame 1 andto rigidly lock the frame l to the camera structure. The groove andtongue engagement shown securely and rigidly locks the parts togetherand forms light-proof arrangement.

Secured to the rear edges of the frame 1 is a main supporting plate 7 ofrectangular shape and oft a width preferably equal to the height offrame l hut of a length greater than the width oil the frame 11, so asto extend equal distances to either side of the la This plate a centralrectangular opening 3 communicating centrally with the interior of lEmending longitudinally across and secured to the rear lace of the plateor lrarne l adjacent the upper and lower edges themed are bars 9 and ll)under-cut their inner under edges to leave rectan ular slidewa-ys ll andi2 respectively that the ctucriage which is preferably of the samelength as the main frame, can he slid longitudinally across the mainframe to project heyond either end thereof, lhe main frame I? and theslide lrame or carriage 13 are preferahly constructed of wood in themanner well known in the art to he prevented from warping or becomingdistorted. The slide frame or carriagesupports adjustable; tocusingmechanism and adjustable plate holder mechanism,

The licensing mechanism comprises a rectangular frame it cut down alongits inner edges to form a seat 15 for accommodating a ground glassfocusing plate 16. The opening surrounded b frame 14 registers with arectangular opemng 17 through the carriage l3,'vvhich is of the samesize as the central opening 8 through the main frame 7. To exclude lightduring focusing operation a hood 18 is preferably provided and mountedin any suitable manner on frame 14 about and over the focusing plate 16.

The frame 19 for supporting the detachable plate holder 20 comprisesupper and lower horizontal bars 21 and 22 and a vertical bar 23connecting the inner ends of bars 21 and 22, these bars being rigidlysecured to the carriage 13 about the rectan opening 24: provided in thecarriage. this arrangement the carriage" 13 can be slid longitudinallyalong the main frame 7 to carry either the focusing opening 17 intoregister with central opening 8 or to carry the plate opening 24 intoregister with the central opening 8. I preferably provide mechanism formore accurately efiecting lar ithnoel/nee such shifting adjustment ofthe carriage l3, and as shown, a rack bar 25 issecured to the lower har22 of the plate holder frame and extends inward longitudinally and hasmeshing engagement with a pinion 23 mounted on shaft 27 journaled 'mvehraclret 1 23 secured to and extending rearwardly and upwardly lrom themain frame If helovv the j lower guide bar it)" The rear end of shaftcarriage can be accomplished upon turningof the crank 29, or this rachtear extend only along the lower bar 22 of frame in so that only thecentering adjustment or? the plate holder mechanism. can he accomplishedhy the turning of crank 23.

in Figs. 5, 7 and it l have shown pl te holder mechanism of aconstruction particularly desirahle and 'adaptahle con nection with myattachment. lThe frame 20 comprises upper and lower 3d and 3i and innerand outer side Walls 32 and 33. The inner faces of the walls of frame 20are steppedgradually to "form seats for various parts. -"l"he upper-step3e accommodates a cover 35 shown as hinged at 36 to the outer side walland provided at the opposite edge. with a latch bar 37 for engaging in.latch hook 38 secured to the inner side bar 32. The third step 39 servesfor the accommodation of kits 40which ma have central openings 41 of acontour-an size depending upon the size and shape of the plate to beaccommodated, the inner edge of the-kit being stepped down a distance toleave a seat 4.2 for Will receiving the photographic plate'43. "The 7second step 44 accommodates a-pad 45 see cured to the inner face of thecover- 35 to engage snugly against the outer face of the plate 43 whenthe cover is closed, to thus securely hold the plate to-its kit 40" andto exclude all light therefrom. The inner step 46 is slotted toaccommodate the exposure slide or shutter 47, this slide extending intothe plate holder frame through slot 48 provided in the outer side bar 33and engaging at its upper and lower edges in slots 49 and 50 (Fig. 11)formed in the upper-and lower bars 30 and 31, while the inner edge ofthe exposure slide whenthe plate is closed engages in the slot 51 cut inthe inner' side bar 32 of the plate holder seamen frame (Fig. 7 j...This slide can. therefore be' slid into or ouzt of the plate holderframe to controli the exposure of the photographic plate The outer end;of the exposure slide is secured to a vertical bar 52 bymeans of whichthe plate can be readily manipu latedt As best shown in Figs. 1, and131,. dissection. of the. rack. bar25'along'the lower bar22: of theplate hmlider supporting frame 129; slightly overhangs the upper edge ofthe bar 22, and when time plate hotdier 1s. to be inserted in thesupporting frameits lower edge"- is first set on: bar 22- between theovenhanging rack bar and the carriage 13, and the top of the plateholder is then swung against the carriage 13 until api-n53 extending'from the upper bar 30 of the plate holder is received: by a spring:tongue 54 mounted in pocket 55 in the upper bar 21 m of frame 19'.- Theplate holder will thus be rigidly locked to and against the car-- riage13 to travel with this carriage upon adjustment thereof. After a platehas been inserted in the holder and the holder applied to the carriagethe carriage is first shifted. toward the right to bring the focus ingframe into register with the central opening 8 of the main frame 7., andafter proper focus has been adjusted for the car riage is sli iftedtoward the left to position the opening 24 centrally with reference tothe opening 8, whereupon the exposure slide or shutter 47 is withdrawnto expose the plate to openings 24 and 8, andthe lens mechanism is thenoperated and the photograph taken in the ordinary manner. After this theexposure slide can be shoved back into the plate holder frame and theentire plate holder removed for the insertion of 40. a fresh plate.

As above described, the exposure slide 47 can be adjusted manually, butI prefer to accomplish this adjustment automatically upon relativemovement of the carrier and main supporting frame. This is effected bymeans of spring clips 56 and 57 secured with reference to main frame 7and adapted for engagement at their apertured ends.

56 and 57 with pins 58 and 59 extending from the ends of the exposureslide bar 52. I preferably mount the spring clips to be longitudinallyadjustable with reference to main frame 7, so as to be able to adjustfor the distance which it is desired to have the slider plate move intoor out of the plate holder frame. As shown, the upper and lowerguidebars 9 and 10 for the carriage 13 have each secured thereto a pair oflongitudinal guide bars 60 and 61 whose adjamcent under edges are cutaway to form a j guide channel 62, the inner ends of the bars beingseparated by a gap 63. Within the channel 62 of each set of bars a rackbar 64 is inserted to slide longitudinally. A plate 86' 56' mounting thespring clip 56 slidably engages the upper bars 60 and 6-1 and has a stud65 secured; tothe corresponding rack bar 641.. Directly opposite andslid-able on the: Bower bars 60* and 61 is a similar plate Uponlongitudinal movement of the rack bars; the plates 56- and 57 will: beadjusted longitudinald-y' to time the engagement of the spring clipswith the pins 58 and 59 on the exposure stide: bar 52.. As a means forsimultaneously moving the. spring clip supporting plates 15 providegears 66 and 66 for engaging with the respective rack bars 64 thesegears being mounted on. a. transverse shaft 67 journaled in bearings 68ex.- tending forwardly from the main frame 7,

the shaft being provided at its lower end witlm a crank 69.. Ans bestshown in Fig. 4 gear 66 extends through a slot 70 cut through the mainframe 7 and the upper guide bar 9 andinto meshing engagement with theupper rack bar 64, and for the gear 66 a similar slot 70 is provided e.'tending through frame 7 and the low r guide bar 10.. Upon turning of thecrank 67 therefore, both rack bars 64 will be simultaneously shiftedlongitudinally and the spring clips simultaneously adjusted. The springclips deflect toward each other to hold their ends in the path ofthe-pins 58 and 59 and also to be in the path of the beveled ends 21 and22 of the upper and lower bars 21 and 22 of the plate holder supportingframe.

As shownin Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the focusing mechanism is in centralposition with reference to the camera, and the spring clips are spreadapart by the engagement of their ends with the bars 21 and 22, theexposure slide 47 being entirely in the'pla-te holder frame to seal thephotographic plate within the plate holder. After proper focalconditions have been established crank 29 is turned and the carriershifted toward the left tobring the plate holder in photographicposition with reference to the camera. As soon as the ends of the springclips reach the tapered ends 21 and 22, the springs will deflect towardeach other to eventually carry their apertured ends onto the pins 58 and59 of the exposure slide to thus receive and hold the slide so that uponfinal movement of the plate holder into photographicposition the plateholder will be drawn-away from the now stationary exposure slide,whereby the inlet opening 24 to the plate holder will be exposed, thisbeing plainly shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

As before stated, the plate holder can be adapted for containing anysized plate by inserting the corresponding sized kit 40 in the holder,and the spring clip frames can be adjusted so that there will be justenough relative movement between the plate holder and the slider plateto expose the plate when the plate holder reaches the central positionwith reference to the camera. As shown, a 4x5 kit 40 is inserted andsupports a 4x5 plate, and the spring clip frames are adjusted so thatthe exposure plate need be withdrawn. only sufliciently to entirelyexpose the plate. Each spring clip. supporting plate has its outer edgeextended to an indicating point 71 for cooperating with scale marks 72on the adjacent guide bar to assist in setting the plates to give thedesired adjustment of the spring clip ends with reference to the sliderplate. After a picture has been taken crank 29 is actuated in theopposite direction to move the carriage 13 toward the right from theposition indicated in Figs. 5 and 7. The exposure slide 47 will be heldstationary bythespring clips until the plate holder frame on thecarriage has traveled to be closed by the slide, whereafter the taperedends 21 and 22 will en.- gage with the spring clips to spread theseclips apart and away from the exposure slide pins, and thereafter theplate holder and slide will move together to the position shown in Figs.1 to 3. The plate holder can now be bodily removed from its supportingframe to have a new plate inserted therein, or another plate holder canbe inserted in the supporting frame 19. If a different sized plate is tobe used a corresponding kit 40 is, applied in-the plate holder toreceive the plate, and the spring clips adjusted by operation of crank67, so that upon subse quent manipulation of the carriage the exposureslide will be moved correspondingly to expose the plate and then tore-seal the plate holder. Thus the same plate holder can be utilized foraccommodating a number of different sized plates, and the plate holderwill be opened and closed automatically upon shifting of the carriage tobring the plate holder into and out of photographic center.

In prior construction and procedure the ground glass focusing plate isprovided on the camera and is first used to bring the camera to focus,whereafter the plate holder is slipped in between the ground glass frameand the lens, or the ground glass holder is first applied in the camera,and then removed and the plate holder substituted, and after insertionof the plate holder the exposure slide is withdrawn. This procedure,

involving a number of manipulations of in-' serting and withdrawing, isvery apt to disturb the focal adjustments, and sometimes plates will bespoiled by forgetting to reinsert the exposure slide before withdrawalof the plate holder. In my arrangement the carriage can be readily andaccurately shifted to make focal adjustments and then ripeness readilyand accurately and without disturbing the focal adjustments be shiftedto bring the plate holder into the photographic field and the containedplate into focus, and there is no danger of forgetfulness to eitherwithdraw the exposure slide or to reinsert the slide, this being takencare of entirely automatically upon adjustment of the carriage. quicklyand accurately applied to various styles of camera in place of theordinary plate holder, and the attachment can be as quickly removed. Theattachment is of particular advantage and desirability in portrait work,where the subject is apt to move after being focused. With the old wayconsiderable time elapsed between focusing and the insertion of theplate holder, but with my attachment the plate can be quickly broughtinto place after focusing adjustment and the lens actuated to take thepicture.

In the construction of the attachment the fit between the slidingcarriage and its guide bars9 and 10 should be such as to prevententrance of light between the carriage and the main frame 7. As afurther precaution against the entrance of light between these membersrollers 73 and 74 are provided atopposite sides of the central opening2a of the main frame 7, these rollers being mounted in front ofthe frame7 and within the frame 1, as illustrated in Figs. 4:, 7 and 8. Roller 73projects through slot 75 extending transversely of board 7., the rollershaft 76 being journaled in elongated bearings 77 each containing alight compression spring 78 abutting against the bearing head and thecorresponding end of the shaft, the tendency of these springs being topress the roller against the adjacent face of the carriage. Likewise, aslot 75 is provided for roller 74: in frame 7, the shaft 76 of thisroller being mounted'in elongated bearings 77 each having a spring 78interposed therein. As best illustrated in Fig. 7, the rollers presslightly against the adjacent face of the carriage and prevent entranceof light between said carriage and frame 7.

I also provide improved means for quickly and accurately adjusting thesize and shape of the opening 8 through the main frame 7, this beingpreferably accomplished by mc'ans of a diaphragm in the form of asheetor band having openings of various size and shape cut therein. Foraccommodating this diaphragm mechanism vertical partitions 80 and 81 areprovided in the frame 1 adjacent the opening 8 through frame, 7. Betweenthe upper ends of these partitions is interposed a horizontal roller 82whose shaft 83 extends through the partitions to have hearing therein,and between the lower ends of these partitions a similar roller 84 isjour The entire attachment can also be shifted back and forth. Thus theindicating mechanism will show the number of pictures which have beentaken.

My improved attachment can also be used with great accuracy andefliciency for localizing pictures at difl'erent parts of a plate, thediaphragm for this purpose being provided wtih openings to be broughtinto proper position with reference to the plate. Adjustment for suchworkcan be assisted by the relative adjustment between the plate holderframe a of the camera and the lens supporting'frame L As shown in Fig.11, the lower wall of the frame a has the tongue 113 having dove-tailengagement in the supporting board 11 1 mounted for longitudinaladjustment on the bed m by means of rollers n, while the lens frame Lhas also a tongue 115 dove-tailed into the-mounting board 116. lhe lensZ is mounted on the lens board U adjust-able vertically in slots ;0 inframe L in the ordinary manner. With these various adjustments the imagecan be focused to appear on any desired localized space of a plate, andupon shifting of the diaphragm to bring various openings into variouspositions with reference to a plate several exposures can be taken on asingle plate without the necessity of withdrawing the plate from theplate holder. The opening 8 through the main frame 7 can it desired bereduced or otherwise adjusted by means of suitable hits 117, the edgesof opening 8 being cut down to form a seat- 118 for these ,kits so thatthese kits will not interfere with the free sliding of the carriage 13across the frame 7.

The operation or my improved attachment has been brought out at variousstages in the preceding description, and a repetition of the operationis not necessary. it .is evident that the attachment can be readilyapplied to cameras in place of the ordinary single plate holders, and bythe use of the attachment the time of manipulation is re duced to aminimum and much more accurate, reliable and more extended photographicwork can he accomplished. The attachment is of particular utility whenused in connection with the enlarging and copying apparatus andarrangement disclosed in my co-pending application executed of even datewith this application. All the adjustable parts of the attachment arecontrollable from the rear of the camera, and the adjustments can bequickly and accurately made to assure reliable results.

Provision is made to prevent the entrance of light to all sensitiveparts, and in practice, of course, the various partswill be so relatedthat light dispersion will be eliminated.

Modifications in construction and arrangement are of course possiblewhich would still come within the scope of my invention, and I do nottherefore desire to be limited to the particular embodiments which Ihave shown and described, but

1 claim the following:

1. In a camera attachment, the combination of a main frame adapted to heapplied to a camera to communicate with the interior thereof, a carriageslidable on said -frame and having an opening, a plate holder adapted tobe secured to the carriage about said opening, a shutter and exposureslide for said plate holder, and detents mounted on said main -lt'ranrein the path of said exposure slide and adapted upon movement of saidcarriage to bring the opening therein into register with the camera toengage with said exposure slide to draw said slide outwardly of theplate holder and to restore said slide when the carriage is returned toits normal position, said detents being adjustable on said main framewhereby the degree or opening of said exposure slide can be adjustedfor.

2. in an attachment "for cameras, the combination of a main supportingframe adapted to be applied to a camera to communicate with the interiorthereof, a carriage slidable on said frame and having an opening adaptedupon such sliding to be brought into and out of register with the camerato which the frame is applied, a

' plate holder frame secured to said carriage rack bar, and a commonshaft for said gears,

rotation of said shaitt'causing simultaneous movement oil" said rackbars and adjustment or said detents with reference to the exposure slidewhereby the degree of opening or said closure slide may be determined.-

3. in an attachment for cameras, the combination of a main supportingframe adapted to be secured to a camera and having an openingcommunicating with the interior of the camera, a carriage slidable onsaid main frame and having an opening for cotiperating with said mainframe opening, plate holder mechanism on said carriage and about theopening therein, rollers mounted within said main frame adjacent theopening therein, diaphragm adapted to be wound about said rollers andhaving various sized openings adapted to be carried past the main frameopening upon rotation of the rollers, and gear mechanism mounted on themain frame for operating said rollers, said main frame havhit lllltlfiltl lid ing an additional small opening and said diaphragm havingdesignating characters adapted to pass by the said additional opening toindicate at said additional opening the particular diaphragm openingexposed to the camera.

4. In an attachment for cameras, the combination of a main supportingframe adapted to be applied to a camera to conimunicate therewith, acarriage slidable on said mainframe and having an opening adapted toregister with the camera, a focusing frame secured to the carriage aboutsaid opening, rollers within said main frame and a diaphragmwound onsaid rollers and having different sized openings adapted to be broughtinto re ister with said carriage opening upon rotation of the rollers,means carried by the main frame for controlling the rotation of saidrollers, said main frame having an a additional opening and saiddiaphragm havin characters adapted to pass by said additional opening toindicate what particular diaphragm opening is in register with thecamera and the carriage opening a shutter for said additional opening,and an arm extendin from the carriage for engaging with sai shutter toopen the shutterwhen the carriage is moved to bring the focusingmechanism opening into register with the camera and to engage with saidshutter to close said additional opening when the carriage is moved tocarry the focusing mechanism out of registration with the camera.

5. In an attachment for cameras, the combination of a main supportingframe adapted to be applied to a camera and having an opening toregister with the interior of the camera, a carriage slidable on saidmain frame and having an opening, plate holder mechanism mounted on saidcarriage over the opening therein, rollers pivoted to said main frameadjacent the opening therein and engaging against said carriage forpreventing the entrance of light to the camera when said carriage hasbeen moved to bring the plate holder mechanism into register with themain frame opening.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 12th day ofDecember, A. 1)..

CHARLES CALVERT LAMB. Witnesses:

HENRY SIMS, D. C. MGNAMARA.

